Save Your Back!
Did you know that 80% of adults will have low back pain in their life? That is a lot! Causes of back pain can vary from stress, poor posture, poor body mechanics, and lack of exercise. Posture deals with the alignment of body parts in relation to each other, the main part being the spine. When talking about posture and the spine it is important to note that the spine is responsible for protecting many things including allowing the internal organs to function properly. It also transmits loads between extremities of the body. So, poor posture, which can cause disc problems, can hinder the function of the internal organs and the ability to accept certain loads on the body.
On another note, body mechanics is just as vital as posture. Body mechanics allow us to perform ADL's and other activities that make us who we are. When thinking about the statistic above about low back pain, it is important to know that your lumbar spine is most susceptible to disc damage in the posterior and lateral aspect. In addition, every time you flex your trunk you increase the pressure on the anterior aspect causing the posterio-lateral part to become even more susceptible. So, body mechanics allows us to lift, move, and carry objects. It also allows us to move ourselves. Teaching proper techniques on this will allow people to prevent back pain, and allow the prolonged ability to live life to the fullest!
One way I would teach proper posture would be to a person who has a desk job. I would demonstrate them the proper way of sitting in a chair. This would involve using a broom stick and making sure that the head, back, and buttocks are touching it to allow optimum posture like in the video I watched. I would also show them the correct body mechanics of sit to stand and stand to sit. This will help the prevent back pain.
I could also use proper body mechanics while moving a client. I will use proper body mechanics by watching my hand placement on the client and thinking about which body part I am using as my main muscle exertion. For example, If I have to pick up a client I need to make sure that I am using my legs and not my back to exert the force needed to move them.
On another note, body mechanics is just as vital as posture. Body mechanics allow us to perform ADL's and other activities that make us who we are. When thinking about the statistic above about low back pain, it is important to know that your lumbar spine is most susceptible to disc damage in the posterior and lateral aspect. In addition, every time you flex your trunk you increase the pressure on the anterior aspect causing the posterio-lateral part to become even more susceptible. So, body mechanics allows us to lift, move, and carry objects. It also allows us to move ourselves. Teaching proper techniques on this will allow people to prevent back pain, and allow the prolonged ability to live life to the fullest!
One way I would teach proper posture would be to a person who has a desk job. I would demonstrate them the proper way of sitting in a chair. This would involve using a broom stick and making sure that the head, back, and buttocks are touching it to allow optimum posture like in the video I watched. I would also show them the correct body mechanics of sit to stand and stand to sit. This will help the prevent back pain.
I could also use proper body mechanics while moving a client. I will use proper body mechanics by watching my hand placement on the client and thinking about which body part I am using as my main muscle exertion. For example, If I have to pick up a client I need to make sure that I am using my legs and not my back to exert the force needed to move them.
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